Decades of Service:
‘Love for the job, and for the people you’re serving’

by Emma Lwando

“Twenty-seven years of service as a volunteer community health worker,” recalled Christopher Mwiya. “I have countless memorable experiences, especially administering a rapid finger-stick test to see if malaria parasites are present in the blood in the community.”

“There are people in the hospital who are working to provide healthcare,” Christopher continued, “but not so much in the communities. But these communities need people to serve them, to give them life. I thought that by joining as a community health worker, I could help.”

Christopher is a vital link between his village and the rural health center 15 miles (24 kilometers) away. “We invest our efforts into the community because we know the community members,” said Christopher. In rural settings like Katunda Village, volunteer health workers like him are a lifeline between villagers and Katunda health post.

Christopher’s work presents numerous challenges. “The long distance is an obvious one. It is indeed very challenging,” he said. He has long days visiting patients in the most remote areas of his community.

Christopher’s dedication pulls him through. In recommending what values would be important for working successfully as a community health worker, he says, “You have to have love for the job, and for the people you’re serving.”

Christopher also reflected on the need to work together and communicate across the team, both key components of his  work to support other community health workers as they strive to deliver the highest quality of care and to build strong and lasting relationships with the local health facility.

His community appreciates his sacrifice. “People are very thankful,” Christopher  said. “I’m motivated to work hard as a volunteer because of the trust and confidence the people showed by choosing me. I do not want to let them down.”